Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

Grand Havana Room, May 26, 2004

LOT 300

Richard Mille,?Tourbillon RM002?. Production of this reference started in 2001. Very fine, rare and very unusual, tonneau-shaped and curved, titanium gentleman?s wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, torque indicator, power-reserve and a titanium Richard Mille buckle.

USD 130,000 - 160,000

EUR 110,000 - 135,000

C. Three-body, bezel with 8 special milled titanium screws, reinforced case band, transparent case back with 4 special milled titanium screws, rubber-coated winding crown with co-axial pushbutton to select a neutral, winding or hand-setting position, 2 curved and antireflective sapphire crystals. D. Transparent with white Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions with 5-minute luminous dot markers, at 1 sector for the torque indication, at 4 indicator for the winding, neutral and hand-setting postion, at 11 sector for the up-and-down indication, at 6 aperture for the tourbillon regulator under a V-shaped bridge. Titanium ?skeleton? hands with luminous tips. M. Cal. RM 002-4, titanium, 23 jewels, some in gold chatons, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator, titanium tourbillon cage with 3 equidistant polished arms, monometallic balance with ceramic cap jewel, adjusted to heat, cold and 5 positions, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring.Dial, case and movement signed.Dim. 38 x 45 mm.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view
Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1 - 01

Notes

Richard Mille After a long and successful career in the watch industry, in 2001 Richard Mille presented his own line of watches and met immediate success with his very unconventional and radical high-tech approach to fine watchmaking. His timepieces break new technical and esthetical ground ? taking inspiration from Formula One racecars, materials and production processes. They are developed in close cooperation with Audemars Piguet?s Renaud & Papi, one of the watch industry?s most innovative technical leaders. Using materials like ceramic, titanium or chronifer, an anti-magnetic alloy, the RM 002 Tourbillon features a co-axial button in the crown to select neutral, winding or hand-setting positions, very much like selecting gears in a car. A torque indicator displays the actual strength of the mainspring and a ceramic endstone on the balance reduces friction to a higher degree than a traditional cap jewel. The eyes and hands of experienced watchmakers bring Richard Mille?s dreams reality ? but trad tional techniques, materials and skills are still of equal importance in building these radically different watches.